Into the Dark: What darkness is and why it matters

Jacqueline Yallop explores our enduring love-hate relationship with states of darkness, documenting night-time walks and reflecting on how our relationship with the dark can change with time and circumstance. She considers how we attempt to understand and contain the dark, and how it can be both a thing of beauty and a void.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2023
Publisher: Icon Books

Often poetic, highly researched, and thought-provoking, New Scientist delves gently and thoughtfully into the realm of darkness. Jacqueline Yallop can vividly recall the first encounter with true darkness, a profound experience that occurred in an unfamiliar bedroom during a childhood holiday in Yorkshire. Since then, she has been captivated by the dark, its enigmatic nature, and the ways in which we attempt to capture, avoid, interpret, and process it.

In her captivating book, "Into the Dark," Yallop embarks on a journey into the enigmatic depths of place, body, and mind. Through a series of night-time walks, she explores both the physical realities of darkness and the psychological darkness that shapes our sense of self. She delves into our enduring love-hate relationship with states of darkness, questioning how we seek to understand and contain this mysterious element. As she grapples with her father's deteriorating Alzheimer's, she reflects on how our relationship with the dark can evolve and change over time and in different circumstances.

Darkness, a multifaceted and enigmatic phenomenon, captivates, baffles, and appeals to us. It possesses a multitude of textures and moods, oscillating between absence and presence, solace and threat, beginning and end. "Into the Dark" takes a fearless approach, facing the darkness in all its guises and mysteries. It celebrates darkness as a thing of beauty, while also peering into the void that lies within it.

Through her meticulous research and poetic prose, Yallop invites readers to explore the darker aspects of human existence and the natural world. She sheds light on the scientific, cultural, and psychological implications of darkness, challenging our preconceptions and prompting us to reevaluate our relationship with this enigmatic force. "Into the Dark" is a thought-provoking and immersive journey that will leave readers pondering the mysteries of the night and the depths of the human psyche.

Weight: 352g
Dimension: 144 x 223 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837730711